Sectional connected reading and recitation table



1953 0.1-1. STEENE ETAL 7 2,661,988

SECTIONAL CONNECTED READING AND RECITATION TABLE Filed March 17, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR5 v 71?. az ascaffiaz'eene fln'nafiezze SZee n6 W Q M ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1953 o. H. STEE-NE ETAL 6 SECTIONAL CONNECTED READING AND RECITATION TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 17, 1952 33 1 lllmyllllllllln A3 A8 A9 2/ INVENTO S SZeene 0 a M H ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 8, 1953 OFFICE SECTIONAL CTED READING AND RECITATION TABLE Oscar H. Steene and Annabelle Steeire, Twin Falls, Idaho- Applica'tio'n March 17, 1952, Serial No. 276,968

This invention relates to sectional tables.

An object of this invention is to provide a sectional table which is formed of at least two semi- U-shaped sections which when assembled form a U-shaped table. This U-shaped table is designed as an instruction table whereby pupils may be seated about the outside of the table, and the instructor may be seated inside the table in a position to give close attention to any one or more of the pupils.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sectional table wherein the sections may be nested together, or placed one on top of the other, so as to reduce the space occupied by the table when not in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved sectional table with means for detachably locking the table sections together.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more par-' ticularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sectional table constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detailed side elevation of the table.

1 Claim (01. sn- -n Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the I table.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken On the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

' Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals I0 and H designate generally a pair of table sections which are of substantially J configuration in plan and when connected together, form a substantially U-shaped table. The table sections H) and H are of like construction and each section is formed of a top member 12, having legs l3 and M at the ends thereof and an intermediate leg 15 at substantially the junction between the straight portion and the arcuate portion thereof. The legs [3, l4 and I5 are double thickness plywood, and the top i2 is secured to the upper endsof the legs by means of fastening devices I6.

The top l2 includes a covering I! which is secured by adhesive or the like to the plywood I8,

forming the top and,- as shown in- Figure 6, the covering 1.!- extends over the upper end of the leg l3, as indicated at IS. The end legs are rabbeted, as indicated at 2B, and a moulding strip 2| is secured withinthe rabbet 2B. This moulding 2 I is also secured as by adhesive or the like to the marginal edges of the top l2.

A shelf 22 is disposed below the top l2, being secured in a channel 23 formed in the inner sides of the legs, the shelf being fixedly secured in the channel 23 by'fastening means 24. There is at least one vertically disposed partition 25 disposed between each pair of legs, and the partition 25 is inset at the opposite ends thereof, as indicated at 26 and 21, in the shelf 22 and in the lower side of the top I2. Securing means 28 and 29 secure the partition 25 between the top [2 and the shelf 22.

Each leg has secured to the lower end thereof a truncated V-shaped foot member 30 having a tongue 3! secured in a mortice or channel 32 formed in the lower end of the leg.

In order to provide a means whereby the confronting ends of the table sections Ill and I I may be locked together, the inner leg l4 of table section H is formed with a wedge-shaped channel 33 at a point below the shelf 22, and the leg 14 is reduced in thickness above the channel 33, as indicated at 34. The inner end of the table section- I0 is formed with a short leg 35 having a wedge-shaped lower end 36 engageable in the channel or keeper 33.

In order to provide a means whereby the confronting ends of the table sections may be held against horizontal movement, we have provided a key 31 which is secured as by fastening devices 33 to the outer side of the leg member 35, and key 31 engages in a vertically disposed keeper 39 which is formed in the reduced leg portion 34 of leg member M. The inner ends of the table sections in and II are locked together by disposing the inner ends in close confronting position and then raising the inner end of table section In a sufiicient distance to permit the locking wedge member 36 to engage within the keeper or channel 33. At this time, looking member 31 will be disposed in the keyway or keeper 39.

The sectional table hereinbefore described is adapted to be made out of plywood of suitable thickness and width with cover I! secured to the top member l2. In the unassembled condition of the table sections, one of these sections may be disposed upside down on the other section with the tops in confronting position.

The table sections are locked together by means of the complementary wedging members 33 and. 36 and locking member 31. Where the table is used for instructing children or the like, the children will be disposed on the outer side of the table, and the instructor or teacher will be disposed between the parallel sides of the table. In this position, the instructor will be very close to all of the students so that they may be given substantially individual attention. This sectional table may also be used in libraries or other 10- cations where a relatively large table surface is desired within a relatively confined location.

We do not mean to confine ourselves to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A sectional table having a U-shape in plan comprising a pair of table sections, each section being formed of a top member having a straight portion and an arcuate portion extending from one end of said straight portion, a vertical leg at each end of said straight portion, said legs having a width equal to the width of said top, a leg fixed to one of said top members at the free end of one of the arcuate portions thereoi, said one leg having a horizontally disposed V- shaped keeper channel adjacent the upper end thereof, a short leg fixed to the other of said top members at the free end of the arcuate portion thereof, a V-shaped locking member formed on the lower end of said short leg engageable in said keeper channel for locking said sections against movement in a plane at right angles to the confronting faces of said one leg and said short leg, and cooperative positioning means carried by said one leg and said short leg for locking said one leg and said short leg against movement in a plane parallel to the confronting faces thereof.

OSCAR H. STEENE. ANNABELLF STEENE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

